Throughout the video, Abbott proclaims his innocence despite admitting much of what is contained in the felony complaint against him.

The News-Leader spoke on the phone with Abbott Friday and specifically asked why he thought circumcising two teens would not be considered practicing medicine without authorization.

Abbott preferred to write out a statement in response to the question.

It reads: "Though medical doctors often practice circumcision today, circumcision is not the practice of medicine. Unchanged for thousands of years, circumcision is the practice of religion that dates to the very inception of Judaeo-Christianity. Abraham circumcised his children; we have the right to circumcise ours. As explained in my video, upon the repeated request of my children, we merely fulfilled an age-old scriptural command with zero complications using a method that is very safe, easy and requires no stitches because it leaves no open wounds. You’d think there would have to be more to this, but there is not. These legal charges are an unjustified, blatant assault on Religious Liberty and the First Amendment rights of every American."

The rest of Abbott's video addresses other concerns with the News-Leader article, like his recent divorce.